Sunderland's Djibril Cisse targeting summer move to Tottenham

11 May 2009 11:56

According to the Daily Mail, the Frenchman – on loan from Marseille – said learning he would not start against Bolton at the weekend was the final straw in a season which has frequently seen him snubbed in favour of Kenwyne Jones.
Despite hitting the back of the net 11 times for Sunderland in all competitions this season, 27-year-old Cisse has failed to establish a working relationship with his colleague up front, and as such Ricky Sbragia is said to see no reason in keeping him.
The final hours of the January transfer window.Marseille are understood to have offered Sunderland first refusal on the player they value at £10 million, but the Mail suggests the French side are now eager to open negotiations with Tottenham.
Sunderland do stand to benefit should the deal go ahead however, with Darren Bent looking likely to leave White Hart Lane this summer.
Redknapp had offered his striker to Sbragia as part of a play-plus-cash deal when he was in pursuit of Jones in January but the transfer never materialised. Sunderland subsequently launched a bid to sign bent independently – that deal also failed.
If Sunderland avoid relegation this season the club's majority shareholder, Ellis Short has said they will spend big once again to strengthen the side in the hope of an improved Premier League performance next term.